Biology In ActionGeologic Time Project

10th grade

Written by Joe Cicero
Introduction | Task |  Process | Learning Advice | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion


Introduction
Imagine walking with a Triceratops. Have you ever wondered what was it like to live in the time of the dinosaurs? Many movies have been made ofer the years pitting man versus the mighty dinosaurs. What was it like on earth through time? Could we have survived? Why are the dinosaurs gone? Could mass extintion happen to us?

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Task
Your quest is to reasearch a peroid or era in geologic time, or the history of the earth.
  1. Gather information about your time peroid.
  2. Record your information in a journal.
  3. Construct a poster displaying, your time peroid, how long it lasted, description of the earth including Plate Tectonics, climate and life on earth at that time.
  4. Be prepared to discuss why your time peroid ended, and could this happen to us?
  5. Write a 3-page formal research paper about your time peroid or era.

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Process
Visit the links in the Resources section of this Web Quest.
  1. Place your hand in a hat and select a time in the geologiv history of the earth.
  2. Gather Information about your time including:

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Learning Advice
Don't hurry when researching your geologic time project. Use a research journal to write summaries of all your sources. You may also print out the data and read it later. Feel free to use the INSERT method when reading the material.
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Resources
Use these sited to research your genetic disorder:
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Evaluation
This rubric will be used to grade your project.
Use the following criteria as you write your paper, create your posters and prepare for your presentation. Your grade is in your hands.

Project Rubric

8 - 12 Points 5 - 7 Points 2 - 4 Points 0 - 1 Points
Paper 3 + pages
Formal research paper
9+ sources
Paper includes:
a-time of period in era
b-description of the earth at this time
c-description of life
(list 10 organisms)
d-plate tectonics
e-climate
f-theories why it ended
g-where on earth can you find fossils
of this time		 2 to 3 pages
6 to 9 sources
Paper includes most of the information asked for:
a-time of period in era
b-description of the earth at this time
c-description of life
(List 10 organisms)
d-plate tectonics
e-climate
f-theories why it ended
g-where on earth can you find fossils
of this time		 1.5 to 2 pages
1 to 6 sources
Paper includes half of the information asked for:
a-time of period in era
b-description of the earth at this time
c-description of life
(List 10 organisms)
d-plate tectonics
e-climate
f-theories why it ended
g-where on earth can you find fossils
of this time		 1 or less pages
No sources
Description of your topic
Presentation Professional presentation
(Prepared)

Use of note cards
Use of poster
Use of fossil
A superior demonstration of your time
period that covers all the material		 Interesting presentation
Use of poster
A good presentation of your time
period that covers most of the
material		 A presentation of your
time period (YAWN)!!
No poster		 Get up and talk about your topic
(little or no preparation)
Journal 3 journal entries a week
Checked every Mon. & Fri.
Includes number of entries:
a-date of entry
b-bibliography of entry
c-summery of entry
d-all on time
e-thorough summaries
*all entries on time
*correct number of sources		 Less than 3 entries a week
1 to 2 missing journal checks
incomplete entries
1 to 2 late journal checks
3 to 5 sources missing		 3+ missing journal checks
More than 3 checks with less
than 3 entries a week
Incomplete entries
Less than half of the sources
needed
50% or more entries late		 6 or less sources
Many missing journal checks
Incomplete or
Missing entries
50% to 75% entries late

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Conclusion
Discuss as a class how mass extinction could happen in our time. Can man or woman do anything to stop it?

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Last updated March 4, 2005